Advani defends Modi, blasts Cong

The BJP's top brass on Saturday criss-crossed Gujarat plumping for Chief Minister Narendra Modi's campaign line with Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani accusing Congress of "defaming" the Government and the people of the state and projecting them as "killers and criminals".

Leading the BJP charge from the quake devastated town here, he defended Chief Minister Narendra Modi's performance in tackling the situation during the post-Godhra riots.

Advani hit out at Congress Chief Ministerial aspirant Shankar Sinh Vaghela for "defaming" Gujarat, its people and the country during his trip to America.

Like Modi, he also attacked Pakistan daring it to fight a fourth war with India directly instead of indulging in proxy war.

In a hard-hitting speech, Advani said ever since the Godhra incident on February 27, "Gujaratis are being projected before the whole world as murderers and criminals".